The LG 27GN650-B is a great budget gaming monitor. It has low input lag, a 144Hz refresh rate, and exceptional response times to deliver fluid and responsive gameplay. It supports FreeSync natively and is certified as G-SYNC compatible. It doesn't have the best ergonomics because it can't swivel at all, but it's still a good choice for sharing content and co-op gaming thanks to its wide viewing angles. While its 27 inch screen feels immersive, its 1080p resolution might be too low for some, especially for work and media consumption. Lastly, it can only deliver an okay HDR experience because it has a low contrast ratio, no local dimming, and doesn't get bright enough to make highlights pop the way they should.
Our Verdict
The LG 27GN650-B is a good monitor overall. It's great for gaming because it has low input lag, a high refresh rate, fast response times, and VRR support, resulting in a smooth and responsive gaming experience. It's good for work and media consumption, but its 1080p resolution might be too low for some. It's okay for gaming in HDR, although it's mainly due to its great gaming performance, as it doesn't get bright enough for a true HDR experience, has a low contrast ratio, and lacks local dimming.
- Large screen size.
- Wide viewing angles.
- Good visibility in most lighting conditions.
- Flicker-free backlight.
- 1080p resolution might be too low for some.
- Mediocre contrast ratio.
The LG 27GN650-B is good for office use. It has a large 27 inch screen, but the pixel density is a bit low because it's limited to a 1080p resolution, so text and images may look a bit blurry. It has an IPS panel with wide viewing angles, which is great for sharing your work with colleagues. It handles reflections well but doesn't get very bright, so it's better suited for a moderately-lit room as it might not be able to overcome intense glare. Unfortunately, the stand doesn't swivel at all.
- Large screen size.
- Wide viewing angles.
- Good visibility in most lighting conditions.
- 1080p resolution might be too low for some.
The LG 27GN650-B is a great gaming monitor. It has low input lag, a 144Hz refresh rate, and exceptionally fast response times, resulting in smooth and responsive gameplay. It supports FreeSync natively and is compatible with G-SYNC to reduce screen tearing. Sadly, it's not the best for gaming in the dark, as its mediocre contrast ratio makes blacks appear gray. Its 1080p resolution might disappoint some, but it does make it easier for your PC to reach higher frame rates.
- Exceptional response times.
- 144Hz refresh rate.
- Large screen size.
- VRR support.
- Mediocre contrast ratio.
The LG 27GN650-B is good for media consumption. It has a large screen with wide viewing angles, great for sharing content, but its 1080p resolution might be disappointing to some. It handles reflections well and gets bright enough to combat glare in most lighting conditions. Unfortunately, it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks appear grayish in the dark, and its sub-par ergonomics make it hard to place the screen at a comfortable viewing position.
- Large screen size.
- Wide viewing angles.
- Good visibility in most lighting conditions.
- 1080p resolution might be too low for some.
The LG 27GN650-B is good for content creation. It has full sRGB coverage, superb gradient handling, and no color bleed. It's great for sharing your work with coworkers and clients thanks to its wide viewing angles. However, the ergonomics are somewhat limited, and while it has a large 27 inch screen, its 1080p resolution isn't ideal if you tend to work with higher-resolution content.
- Large screen size.
- Wide viewing angles.
- Good visibility in most lighting conditions.
- Full sRGB coverage.
- 1080p resolution might be too low for some.
The LG 27GN650-B is okay for gaming in HDR. It delivers smooth gameplay thanks to its low input lag, 144Hz refresh rate, and fast response times. However, even though it can display a wide color gamut, it doesn't get very bright in HDR, not enough to make highlights pop the way they should. Also, it has a low contrast ratio and lacks local dimming.
- Exceptional response times.
- 144Hz refresh rate.
- Large screen size.
- VRR support.
- Mediocre contrast ratio.
- No local dimming.
- Doesn't get bright enough for true HDR experience.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 24, 2022: Added the LG 24GN60R-B and the LG 24GN650-B.AUS to the table in the Variants section to show the differences.
- Updated Oct 13, 2022: Compared the brightness of this display to the recently-reviewed Samsung Odyssey G4/G40B S27BG40.
- Updated Apr 01, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Mar 30, 2021: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 27 inch LG UltraGear 27GN650-B. The 24 inch LG 24GN650-B has mostly the same specifications, but it has a lower advertised peak brightness and doesn't support a wide color gamut. The LG 24GN600-B and LG 27GN600-B are also very similar, but they have a tilt-only stand. There are many monitors with various configurations in LG's UltraGear lineup, some of which you can see in the table below.
| Model | Size | Resolution | Panel Type | Refresh Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24GN60R-B | 24" | 1920 x 1080 | IPS | 144Hz | Fixed stand |
| 24GN650-B.AUS | 24" | 1920 x 1080 | IPS | 144Hz | |
| 27GN650-B | 27" | 1920 x 1080 | IPS | 144Hz | |
| 27GN750-B | 27" | 1092 x 1080 | IPS | 240Hz | |
| 27GN850-B | 27" | 2560 x 1440 | IPS | 144Hz | |
| 27GN950-B | 27" | 3840 x 2160 | IPS | 160Hz | DisplayHDR 600 |
| 32GN650-B | 32" | 2560 x 1440 | VA | 165Hz | |
| 34GN850-B | 34" | 3440 x 1440 | IPS | 160Hz | DisplayHDR 400 |
If someone comes across a different type of panel or their 27GN650-B doesn't correspond to our review, let us know, and we'll update the review. Note that some tests, like the gray uniformity, may vary between individual units.
Our unit was manufactured in January 2021; you can see the label here.
Popular Monitor Comparisons
The LG 27GN650-B is a great budget gaming monitor with exceptional response times. However, its 1080p resolution on a 27 inch screen results in a relatively low pixel density, which isn't ideal for productivity and media consumption.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best gaming monitors, the best 144Hz monitors, and the best 1080p monitors.
The LG 27GN650-B and the Samsung Odyssey G4/G40B S27BG40 are both very good gaming monitors with a few differences. Even though the LG has a slower 144Hz refresh rate, it has better motion handling due to its quicker response times. However, the Samsung is better to use in well-lit rooms because it gets much brighter. It also has better ergonomics that make it easier to adjust to an ideal viewing position.
The LG 27GN650-B and the LG 27GN800-B score similarly overall, but they're quite different. The 27GN650-B is a 1080p model, while the 27GN800-B is 1440p. Both monitors have the same 144Hz refresh rate, but the 27GN800-B has better response times. The 27GN800-B also has a wider color gamut, and it gets brighter in SDR. However, its ergonomics are significantly worse than the 27GN650-B's because it's limited to tilt adjustment only.
The LG 27GN650-B and the HP X24ih are very similar overall. The main differences are that the HP has a smaller 24 inch screen, and it doesn't support HDR. The HP has better response times at max refresh rate and 60Hz. It also has wider viewing angles and higher peak brightness.
The LG 27GN650-B and the ASUS VG279Q are very similar 1080p, 144Hz monitors. Even though the ASUS scores slightly higher for gaming, the LG has much better response times, resulting in clearer images in fast-moving scenes. The ASUS gets a lot brighter to combat glare, so it might be a better choice if you tend to game in a well-lit room. It also has better ergonomics than the LG, which makes it easier to place the screen in an ideal viewing position.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
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